JP2005305878A - Liquid supply tube for liquid jet device and liquid jet device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid supply tube wherein the bending rigidity can be lowered, and a water-permeation resistance and a gas-barrier property can be realized at a low cost. <P>SOLUTION: This liquid supply tube is adapted to supply a liquid to a jet head mounted on a reciprocable carriage from a liquid tank provided at a liquid jet device body side. The liquid supply tube is constituted of a long elastic member and a film member which is airtightly bonded to the elastic member along thereto in the longitudinal direction. A space section constituted of the elastic member and the film member is made to be a liquid supply path, and the elastic member is made of a specific resin composition. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid supply tube for supplying a liquid from a liquid tank disposed on the liquid ejecting apparatus main body to an ejecting head mounted on a reciprocating carriage, and a liquid ejecting apparatus using the same.

  Conventionally, as a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid onto a target, there is an ink jet recording apparatus that ejects ink droplets onto paper to print an image or the like. The ink jet recording apparatus includes an ejection head (hereinafter referred to as a recording head) mounted on a carriage and reciprocatingly moved in a main scanning direction, and a target (hereinafter referred to as a recording sheet) in a sub scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. ) Is transported, and printing is performed on the recording paper by ejecting droplets (hereinafter referred to as ink droplets) from the recording head based on ejection data (hereinafter referred to as print data). . In many of this type of recording apparatus mainly used as a home use, each liquid tank (hereinafter referred to as an ink tank) for supplying ink to a recording head is provided on a carriage on which the recording head is mounted. It is configured to be detachable.

By the way, in the on-carriage type recording apparatus in which the ink tank is mounted on the carriage as described above, it is difficult to use a large-capacity ink tank, and therefore, a relatively large amount of printing is to be executed. In some cases, the ink tank must be replaced frequently. For this reason, it is inevitable that not only the tank replacement work requires manpower, but also the running cost increases as a result.
Therefore, in this type of recording apparatus used for business use, for example, a large-capacity ink tank is arranged on the main body side of the recording apparatus, and a flexible liquid supply tube (hereinafter referred to as an ink supply tube) is described from the ink tank. ) (Off-carriage type) is employed in which ink is supplied to each recording head mounted on the carriage (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Moreover, there exists patent document 2 regarding the low-hardness thermoplastic material for inkjet printers.

JP2003-320680 International Publication Number WO03 / 027183

In such an off-carriage type recording apparatus, as the printer size (size of printable paper) increases, the drawing distance of the ink supply tube increases, and the dynamic pressure in the ink supply tube from the ink tank to the carriage ( (Pressure loss) increases. For this reason, it is necessary to employ a large inner diameter of each ink supply tube.
In addition, most of the ink supply tubes used in the off-carriage type recording apparatus as described above have an annular cross section, and therefore basically have a large bending rigidity. When a tube having a large inner diameter is employed, the bending rigidity is further increased. Therefore, in order to overcome this bending rigidity, it is necessary to further increase the driving force of the carriage. Further, as the bending rigidity increases, the bending diameter of each tube must be designed to be large, and in any case, the recording apparatus will be further increased in size.

On the other hand, in the ink supply tube described above, it is necessary to suppress the evaporation of water, which is the main component of the ink solvent, and there is also a problem that the outside air dissolves in the ink in the tube and reduces the degree of deaeration of the ink. Yes. For this reason, it is conceivable to increase the thickness of the ink supply tube. However, when the thickness of the tube is increased in this way, the increase in bending rigidity of the tube as described above becomes significant.
Although it is conceivable to use a low-hardness thermoplastic material having high gas confidentiality as described in Patent Document 2 as a material constituting the tube, in order to reduce the rigidity of the tube, the material is made to have a low hardness. However, it is necessary to add a large amount of liquid polymer or oil component. As a result, there is a concern that the gas confidentiality of the material is deteriorated.
In addition, in order to improve the moisture permeation resistance and gas barrier resistance described above, it has been proposed to make the tube into two layers and three layers, but basically a tube having an annular cross section is multilayered. It is inevitable that the structure is accompanied by an increase in bending rigidity as described above, and that the tube has a two-layer or three-layer structure is a mold for forming each layer in an extruder. Etc. are required individually, which increases costs.

  The present invention is made by paying attention to the above-described technical problem of a liquid supply tube that supplies liquid from a liquid tank disposed on the liquid ejecting apparatus main body side to the carriage-side ejecting head like the above-described ink jet recording apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid supply tube for a liquid ejecting apparatus and a liquid ejecting apparatus capable of reducing the bending rigidity and realizing moisture permeation resistance and gas barrier resistance at low cost. It is what.

The liquid supply tube according to the present invention made to achieve the above object is a liquid that supplies liquid from a liquid tank disposed on the liquid ejecting apparatus main body side to an ejecting head mounted on a reciprocating carriage. A supply tube, wherein the liquid supply tube is constituted by a long elastic member and a film member joined in an airtight manner to the elastic member along a longitudinal direction of the elastic member, and the elastic member A space formed by the film member and the film member is used as a liquid supply path, and the elastic member is characterized by being made of a resin composition having the following characteristics (first invention).
(B)-(a)-(b) type isobutylene triblock copolymer having (A) (a) a polymer block mainly composed of isobutylene units and (b) a polymer block mainly composed of styrene units A polymer, (B) an ethylene polymer and / or a propylene polymer, and (C) liquid polybutene,
(1) The air permeability [JIS K7126; method A (differential pressure method), 40 ° C.] measured using a sheet sample having a thickness of 0.5 mm is 200 cm ³ / (m ² · 24 hr · atm) or less,
(2) The moisture permeability measured using a sheet sample having a thickness of 0.5 mm (JIS Z0208; 40 ° C., 90% RH) is 2.0 g / (m ² · 24 hr) or less,
(3) Hardness [JIS K6253 (after 15 seconds)] is 30-60 degrees in JIS-A hardness,
(4) Melt flow rate [MFR] (JIS K7210; 190 degreeC, 52.185N (5.325Kgf)) is 100 g / 10min.

Alternatively, the elastic member is characterized in that it comprises a resin composition having the following characteristics (second invention).
(D) (b)-(a) having a weight average molecular weight of 50,000 to 80,000 having a polymer block mainly composed of (a) isobutylene units and (b) a polymer block mainly composed of styrene units. )-(B) type isobutylene type triblock copolymer, (E) (c) a polymer block mainly composed of isobutylene units, and (d) a polymer block mainly composed of styrene units. 90,000-130,000 (d)-(c)-(d) type isobutylene-based triblock copolymer is blended at a mass ratio of 20: 80-60: 40,
(1) The air permeability [JIS K7126; method A (differential pressure method), 40 ° C.] measured using a sheet sample having a thickness of 0.5 mm is 200 cm ³ / (m ² · 24 hr · atm) or less,
(2) The moisture permeability measured using a sheet sample having a thickness of 0.5 mm (JIS Z0208; 40 ° C., 90% RH) is 2.0 g / (m ² · 24 hr) or less,
(3) Hardness [JIS K6253 (after 15 seconds)] is 30-60 degrees in JIS-A hardness,
(4) Melt flow rate [MFR] (JIS K7210; 270 ° C., 98.0665 N (10 Kgf)) is 5000 g / 10 min.

  According to the liquid ejecting apparatus using the liquid supply tube according to the present invention, the liquid supply tube is bonded to the elastic member in an airtight state along the longitudinal direction of the elastic member and the elastic member. Since the space formed by the elastic member and the film member is used as a liquid supply path and a specific member is used as the elastic member, the bending rigidity can be reduced, and the carriage can be reciprocated. The degree of resistance to exercise can be greatly reduced.

  Hereinafter, an ink jet recording apparatus using an ink supply tube according to the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the basic configuration of the recording apparatus main body. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a carriage, which is guided by a guide member 4 via a timing belt 3 driven by a carriage motor 2 and reciprocates in the main scanning direction along the longitudinal direction of the paper feed member 5. It is configured to be.

A paper feed roller 6 is disposed on the paper feed member 5, and the recording paper 7 sandwiched between the paper feed roller 6 and a driven roller (not shown) is driven by the rotation of the paper feed roller 6. It is configured to be conveyed in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the scanning direction. In this case, a large number of protrusions 5a are intermittently formed along the longitudinal direction on the upper surface of the paper feed member 5, and the recording paper 7 is conveyed along the upper surface of the protrusions 5a. Made.
An ink jet recording head 8 is mounted on the lower surface of the carriage 1 facing the recording paper 7 as indicated by a broken line, and ink droplets are appropriately ejected from the recording head 8 based on print data. Thus, printing can be performed on the recording paper 7.

  On the other hand, reference numeral 10 denotes a capping unit disposed in a non-printing area (home position). The capping unit 10 moves upward when the recording head 8 moves directly above, and forms a nozzle forming surface of the recording head. (In this embodiment, the lower surface of the recording head 8) can be sealed. A suction pump 11 for applying a negative pressure to the internal space of the capping unit 10 is disposed below the capping unit 10.

  The capping means 10 functions as a lid that seals the nozzle formation surface of the recording head 8 and suppresses evaporation of the ink solvent from the nozzle opening during the rest period of the recording apparatus, and from the suction pump 11. By performing negative pressure on the recording head 8 and sucking and discharging ink from the recording head, a cleaning operation for performing maintenance of the ink droplet ejection function of the recording head can also be executed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a wiping member 13 in which an elastic material such as rubber is formed in a strip shape is disposed on the printing area side adjacent to the capping means 10, and the carriage 1 reciprocates toward the capping means 10 side. When doing so, a wiping operation is performed in which the recording head 8 is moved back and forth in the horizontal direction as necessary to wipe and clean the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 8.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, a tank holder 15 is provided at a side end (right end in FIG. 1) of the recording apparatus, and black ink as an ink tank is supplied to the tank holder 15. The black ink tank 16B and the color ink tanks 16C, 16M, and 16Y that supply cyan, magenta, and yellow ink are mounted so as to be detachable from the front of the apparatus.

An ink transport pipe 18 is connected from the tank holder 15 to which each of these ink tanks is mounted to the first connected member 17 mounted on the upper portion of the tank holder 15. Ink from each ink tank is supplied to the first connected member 17.
In this embodiment, although not particularly illustrated, the outer case of each ink tank described above is configured in an airtight state, and each tank case has a flexible ink pack in which ink is sealed. Contained. And it is comprised so that each ink may be extruded by pressurized air by supplying pressurized air in the outer case which comprises an ink tank.

On the other hand, the second connected member 19 is also mounted on the upper portion of the carriage 1, and between the first and second connected members 17 and 19, via each connecting member described later, Each end of the ink supply tube 20 according to the present invention is connected. Accordingly, the ink from each ink tank is individually supplied to the carriage side, and the ink droplets are ejected from the recording head based on the print data.
In addition, in the form shown in FIG. 1, the ink supply tube 20 formed flat and long is employed. The ink supply tube 20 is extended in the horizontal direction from the first connected member 17 so that the strip-shaped flat surface is in a horizontal state, and in the horizontal direction via the U-shaped bent portion 20a. It is folded back and connected to the second connected member 19 described above. Therefore, the U-shaped bent portion 20 a formed in the ink supply tube 20 is sequentially transferred in the longitudinal direction of the ink supply tube as the carriage 1 moves.

  FIG. 2 shows an external configuration of the ink supply tube 20 employed in the recording apparatus shown in FIG. First and second connection members 21 a and 21 b made of synthetic resin are attached to the respective end portions of the ink supply tube 20. In this embodiment, as described above, the ink from each of the four ink tanks 16B, 16C, 16M, and 16Y mounted on the tank holder 15 is supplied to the recording head side. Correspondingly, each of the connecting members 21a and 21b is formed with four connecting pipes 22a and 22b formed in a columnar shape.

  Each connecting pipe 22a formed on the first connecting member 21a is connected to the first connected member 17 shown in FIG. 1, and each connecting pipe 22b formed on the second connecting member 21b is Each ink is connected to the second connected member 19 shown in FIG. 1 and supplied to the recording head 8 mounted on the carriage 1. 2 indicates the U-shaped bent portion formed when the ink supply tube 20 of this embodiment is actually used.

  3 to 6 are enlarged views of the configuration of each part of the ink supply tube 20 whose external configuration is shown in FIG. That is, FIG. 3 shows a state where the first and second connecting members 21a and 21b are viewed from the end side, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view as seen in the direction of the arrow from the line AA in FIG. Is shown. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 4 as viewed in the direction of the arrow, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion C surrounded by a chain line in FIG. The first and second connecting members 21a and 21b are both formed in the same shape. Therefore, in FIGS. 3 to 6, each connecting member is representatively indicated by reference numeral 21. In addition, each of the cylindrical connection pipes formed on each connection member is represented by reference numeral 22 representatively.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the ink supply tubes 20 are arranged in parallel so that the five elastic members 31 are equally spaced. Then, on one surface and the other surface of the elastic member 31, that is, both the upper and lower surfaces, a film member 32 that is also formed into a long shape is joined to the elastic member 31 in an airtight state by means of heat welding. As a result, four spaces surrounded by the adjacent elastic members 31 and the upper and lower film members 32 are formed as ink supply paths as indicated by reference numeral 33 in FIG. It is independently formed through the member 31 in a shape along a long flat plane.

The first invention of the present invention is characterized in that the elastic member 31 is made of a resin composition having the following characteristics.
(B)-(a)-(b) type isobutylene-based triblock copolymer having (A) (a) a polymer block mainly composed of isobutylene units and (b) a polymer block mainly composed of styrene units A polymer, (B) an ethylene polymer and / or a propylene polymer, and (C) liquid polybutene,
(1) The air permeability [JIS K7126; method A (differential pressure method), 40 ° C.] measured using a sheet sample having a thickness of 0.5 mm is 200 cm ³ / (m ² · 24 hr · atm) or less,
(2) The moisture permeability measured using a sheet sample having a thickness of 0.5 mm (JIS Z0208; 40 ° C., 90% RH) is 2.0 g / (m ² · 24 hr) or less,
(3) Hardness [JIS K6253 (after 15 seconds)] is 30-60 degrees in JIS-A hardness,
(4) Melt flow rate [MFR] (JIS K7210; 190 degreeC, 52.185N (5.325Kgf)) is 100 g / 10min or less.

Furthermore, the elastic member 31 is preferably a resin composition having the following characteristics.
(5) Tensile strength and elongation (JIS K6251; dumbbell shape No. 3, 23 ° C.) are 5 MPa or more and 400% or more, respectively.

  In the isobutylene-based triblock copolymer as the component (A), the polymer block mainly composed of (a) isobutylene units means that the isobutylene units are 50% by mass or more, preferably 70% by mass or more, more preferably 90%. A polymer block occupying at least mass%. The monomer that forms units other than isobutylene units in the polymer block mainly composed of isobutylene units is not particularly limited as long as it is a monomer capable of cationic polymerization, but aromatic vinyls, aliphatic olefins And monomers such as dienes such as isoprene, butadiene and divinylbenzene, allyl ethers and β-pinene. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

On the other hand, (b) a polymer block mainly composed of styrene units refers to a polymer block in which styrene units occupy 50% by mass or more, preferably 70% by mass or more, more preferably 90% by mass or more. The monomer that forms units other than the styrene unit in the polymer block mainly composed of styrene units is not particularly limited as long as it is a monomer capable of cationic polymerization, and α-methylstyrene, β-methylstyrene. And monomers such as aromatic vinyls such as p-methylstyrene, tert-butylstyrene, monochlorostyrene, dichlorostyrene, methoxystyrene, and indene, aliphatic olefins, dienes, allyl ethers, and β-pinene. it can. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
The (B)-(a)-(b) type isobutylene-based triblock copolymer used as the component (A) is used at the time of blending, and (a) a polymer block mainly composed of isobutylene units and (b) styrene. The content ratio of the polymer block mainly composed of units is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of physical properties of the obtained resin composition, (a) the polymer block mainly composed of isobutylene units is 60 to 85% by mass, (B) The polymer block mainly composed of styrene units is preferably 40 to 15% by mass, (a) the polymer block is 65 to 80% by mass, and (b) the polymer block is 35 to 20% by mass. % Is particularly preferred.

Further, the weight average molecular weight of the isobutylene triblock copolymer of the component (A) used at the time of blending is not particularly limited, but from the aspects of mechanical properties and moldability of the obtained resin composition, 40,000 to 200,000 is preferable, and 50,000 to 150,000 are particularly preferable. The weight average molecular weight is a value in terms of polystyrene measured by a gel permeation chromatography method (GPC method).
There is no restriction | limiting in particular about the manufacturing method of the said isobutylene type | system | group triblock copolymer, A conventionally well-known method can be used. For example, a monofunctional component such as α-chloro-isopropylbenzene, a bifunctional component such as 1,4-bis (α-chloroisopropyl) benzene (also referred to as p-dicumulyl chloride), or 1,3,5-tris (α- Chloroisopropyl) Inifer process in which living cationic polymerization is performed using a trifunctional component such as benzene as an initiator and chain transfer agent and a Lewis acid such as BCl ₃ or TiCl ₄ as a catalyst (for example, disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,276,394) To form a polymer mainly composed of isobutylene units having a controlled molecular weight, and subsequently add a monomer mainly composed of styrene to copolymerize the desired isobutylene-based triblock copolymer. A polymer can be obtained.

In the resin composition of the first invention, an ethylene polymer and / or a propylene polymer is used as the component (B).
Examples of the ethylene polymer include high density, medium density, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer. be able to.
On the other hand, as a propylene-type polymer, a propylene homopolymer, a propylene-ethylene block copolymer, a random copolymer, a propylene-ethylene-diene compound copolymer, etc. can be illustrated. Among these, a crystalline polypropylene resin is preferable, and as this crystalline polypropylene resin, for example, an isotactic propylene homopolymer having crystallinity, an ethylene-propylene random copolymer having a small content of ethylene units, In the propylene block copolymer composed of a homo part composed of a propylene homopolymer and a copolymer part composed of an ethylene-propylene random copolymer having a relatively large ethylene unit content, and further in the propylene block copolymer Examples thereof include crystalline propylene-ethylene-α-olefin copolymers in which each homo part or copolymer part is obtained by further copolymerizing an α-olefin such as butene-1.
By containing this component (B), the resin composition has improved heat-fusibility and a reduced shrinkage during molding.

  In the resin composition according to the first aspect of the present invention, as the component (B), one or more of the above ethylene polymers may be used, or one or more of the propylene polymers may be used. In addition, one or more ethylene polymers and one or more propylene polymers may be used in combination.

In the resin composition according to the first aspect of the present invention, the liquid polybutene used as the component (C) preferably has a number average molecular weight of about 200 to 3,000 mainly composed of isobutylene units. Such liquid polybutene is mainly composed of, for example, isobutylene obtained by copolymerizing some butene-1 obtained by using the remaining fraction obtained by extracting butadiene from a C ₄ fraction produced by naphtha decomposition as a raw material. Or a low polymer of high-purity isobutylene, liquid butyl rubber obtained by copolymerizing a small amount of isoprene with isobutylene, or the like can be used. These may be used individually by 1 type, and may be used in combination of 2 or more types. By including these liquid polybutenes, the resin composition has improved flexibility and water vapor barrier properties.

The resin composition according to the first aspect of the present invention has the following properties.
First, based on JIS K7126 A method (differential pressure method), air permeability [JIS K7126; A method (differential pressure method), 40 ° C.] measured using a sheet sample having a thickness of 0.5 mm is 200 cm ³ / (m ² · 24 hr · atm) or less, and has excellent gas barrier properties. The air permeability is preferably 180 cm ³ / (m ² · 24 hr · atm) or less, and more preferably 160 cm ³ / (m ² · 24 hr · atm) or less. The lower limit of the air permeability is not particularly limited, but is usually about 50 cm ³ / (m ² · 24 hr · atm).
Moreover, based on JIS Z0208, the water vapor permeability (JIS Z0208; 40 degreeC, 90% RH) measured using the 0.5 mm-thick sheet sample is 2.0 g / (m < ² > 24hr) or less, and with respect to water vapor | steam Excellent barrier properties. The moisture permeability is preferably 1.8 g / (m ² · 24 hr) or less, more preferably 1.7 g / (m ² · 24 hr) or less, and particularly preferably 1.5 g / (m ² · 24 hr) or less. . The lower limit of the moisture permeability is not particularly limited, but is usually about 0.5 g / (m ² · 24 hr).
The hardness measured based on JIS K6253 (after 15 seconds) is 30 to 60 degrees in JIS-A hardness. When the hardness is in the above range, the flexibility is good and the machine has appropriate mechanical properties.

Melt flow rate [MFR] (JIS K7210; 190 degreeC, 52.185N (5.325Kgf)) is 100 g / 10min or less. If MFR is in the above range, it has good injection moldability and good mechanical properties. The preferred MFR is 10 to 80 g / 10 minutes, more preferably 10 to 60 g / 10 minutes.
Furthermore, based on JIS K6251, the tensile strength and elongation (JIS K6251; dumbbell shape No. 3, 23 ° C.) are preferably 5 MPa or more and 400% or more, respectively, and 6 MPa or more and 500% or more. Further preferred.

  The content ratio of the component (A), the component (B), and the component (C) in the resin composition of the present invention is as follows. It is preferable that B) component is 5-40 mass parts, (C) component is 5-40 mass parts, (B) component is 10-30 mass parts, and (C) component is 15-35. It is preferable that it is a mass part.

The second invention of the present invention is characterized in that the elastic member 31 is made of a resin composition having the following characteristics.
(D) (b)-(a) having a weight average molecular weight of 50,000 to 80,000 having a polymer block mainly composed of (a) isobutylene units and (b) a polymer block mainly composed of styrene units. )-(B) type isobutylene type triblock copolymer, (E) (c) a polymer block mainly composed of isobutylene units, and (d) a polymer block mainly composed of styrene units. 90,000-130,000 (d)-(c)-(d) type isobutylene-based triblock copolymer is blended at a mass ratio of 20: 80-60: 40,
(1) The air permeability [JIS K7126; method A (differential pressure method), 40 ° C.] measured using a sheet sample having a thickness of 0.5 mm is 200 cm ³ / (m ² · 24 hr · atm) or less,
(2) The moisture permeability measured using a sheet sample having a thickness of 0.5 mm (JIS Z0208; 40 ° C., 90% RH) is 2.0 g / (m ² · 24 hr) or less,
(3) Hardness [JIS K6253 (after 15 seconds)] is 30-60 degrees in JIS-A hardness,
(4) Melt flow rate [MFR] (JIS K7210; 270 ° C., 98.0665 N (10 Kgf)) is 5000 g / 10 min.

Furthermore, the elastic member 31 is preferably a resin composition having the following characteristics.
(5) Tensile strength and elongation (JIS K6251; dumbbell shape No. 3, 23 ° C.) are 5 MPa or more and 300% or more, respectively.

  In the isobutylene-based triblock copolymer that is the component (D) and the component (E), the polymer block mainly composed of the isobutylene unit represented by (a) and (c) is an isobutylene unit of 50 mass. % Or more, preferably 70% by mass or more, more preferably 90% by mass or more. The monomer that forms units other than isobutylene units in the polymer block mainly composed of isobutylene units is not particularly limited as long as it is a monomer capable of cationic polymerization, but aromatic vinyls, aliphatic olefins And monomers such as dienes such as isoprene, butadiene and divinylbenzene, allyl ethers and β-pinene. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  On the other hand, the polymer block mainly composed of (b) and (d) styrene units means a polymer block in which styrene units occupy 50% by mass or more, preferably 70% by mass or more, more preferably 90% by mass or more. Say. The monomer that forms units other than the styrene unit in the polymer block mainly composed of styrene units is not particularly limited as long as it is a monomer capable of cationic polymerization, and α-methylstyrene, β-methylstyrene. And monomers such as aromatic vinyls such as p-methylstyrene, tert-butylstyrene, monochlorostyrene, dichlorostyrene, methoxystyrene, and indene, aliphatic olefins, dienes, allyl ethers, and β-pinene. it can. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  The (D) component isobutylene triblock copolymer and the (E) component isobutylene triblock copolymer are the (b)-(a)-(b) type and (d)-(c)-, respectively. (D) type, (a) a polymer block mainly composed of isobutylene units, (b) a content ratio of a polymer block mainly composed of styrene units, and (c) a polymer block mainly composed of isobutylene units; (D) Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular about the content rate of the polymer block which has a styrene unit as a main body, From the surface of the physical property of the resin composition obtained, the polymer block which has an isobutylene unit as a main component is 60-85 mass%, respectively. The polymer block mainly composed of styrene units is preferably 40 to 15% by mass, the polymer block mainly composed of isobutylene units is 65 to 80% by mass, It is particularly preferred polymer block of down unit mainly is 35-20 wt%.

In the present invention, the content ratio of the polymer block mainly composed of the isobutylene unit and the polymer block mainly composed of the styrene unit is such that the (D) component isobutylene triblock copolymer and the (E) component isobutylene. In the triblock copolymer, they may be the same or different.
In the present invention, the weight average molecular weight of the isobutylene triblock copolymer of the component (D) is selected in the range of 50,000 to 80,000, and (E) the isobutylene triblock copolymer for the previous part is selected. The weight average molecular weight of the polymer is selected in the range of 90,000 to 130,000. When the weight average molecular weight of the component (D) is less than 50,000, the resulting resin composition has good moldability, but has a large compression set and poor resilience during heat molding. On the other hand, if the weight average molecular weight of the component (E) exceeds 130,000, the moldability is deteriorated and injection molding becomes difficult. The weight average molecular weight is a value in terms of polystyrene measured by a gel permeation chromatography method (GPC method).

In the present invention, the blending ratio of the isobutylene triblock copolymer as the component (D) and the isobutylene triblock copolymer as the component (E) is selected at a mass ratio of 20:80 to 60:40. Is done. If this blending ratio is in the above range, a resin composition having a predetermined property can be obtained, and the object of the present invention can be achieved. A preferable mixing ratio is in the range of mass ratio 25:75 to 45:55.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular about the manufacturing method of the said isobutylene type | system | group triblock copolymer, A conventionally well-known method can be used. For example, a monofunctional component such as α-chloro-isopropylbenzene, a bifunctional component such as 1,4-bis (α-chloroisopropyl) benzene (also referred to as p-dicumulyl chloride), or 1,3,5-tris (α- Chloroisopropyl) Inifer process in which living cationic polymerization is performed using a trifunctional component such as benzene as an initiator and chain transfer agent and a Lewis acid such as BCl ₃ or TiCl ₄ as a catalyst (for example, disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,276,394) To form a polymer mainly composed of isobutylene units having a controlled molecular weight, and subsequently add a monomer mainly composed of styrene to copolymerize the desired isobutylene-based triblock copolymer. A polymer can be obtained.

The resin composition according to the second aspect of the present invention has the following properties.
First, based on JIS K7126 A method (differential pressure method), air permeability [JIS K7126; A method (differential pressure method), 40 ° C.] measured using a sheet sample having a thickness of 0.5 mm is 200 cm ³ / (m ² · 24 hr · atm) or less, and has excellent gas barrier properties. The air permeability is preferably 180 cm ³ / (m ² · 24 hr · atm) or less, and more preferably 160 cm ³ / (m ² · 24 hr · atm) or less. The lower limit of the air permeability is not particularly limited, but is usually about 50 cm ³ / (m ² · 24 hr · atm).
Moreover, based on JIS Z0208, the water vapor permeability (JIS Z0208; 40 degreeC, 90% RH) measured using the 0.5 mm-thick sheet sample is 2.0 g / (m < ² > 24hr) or less, and with respect to water vapor | steam Excellent barrier properties. The moisture permeability is preferably 1.8 g / (m ² · 24 hr) or less, more preferably 1.7 g / (m ² · 24 hr) or less, and particularly preferably 1.5 g / (m ² · 24 hr) or less. . The lower limit of the moisture permeability is not particularly limited, but is usually about 0.5 g / (m ² · 24 hr).
The hardness measured based on JIS K6253 (after 15 seconds) is 30 to 60 degrees in JIS-A hardness. When the hardness is in the above range, the flexibility is good and the machine has appropriate mechanical properties.

Melt flow rate [MFR] (JIS K7210; 270 degreeC, 98.0665N (10Kgf)) is 5000 g / 10min or less. If MFR is in the above range, it has good injection moldability and good mechanical properties. The preferred MFR is 3000 g / 10 min or less, more preferably 1000 g / 10 min or less.
Further, the tensile strength and elongation (JIS K6251; dumbbell shape No. 3, 23 ° C.) are preferably 5 MPa or more and 300% or more, respectively, and more preferably 6 MPa or more and 500% or more.

  In the resin composition according to the present invention, in addition to the components (A) to (E), as long as the purpose of the present invention is not impaired, for example, other thermoplastic elastomers and other olefinic resins, Furthermore, plasticizers, fillers, reinforcing agents, silane coupling agents, adhesion promoters, radical crosslinking agents and crosslinking aids, anti-aging agents (phenolic antioxidants, aromatic amine antioxidants, sulfur-based agents) Hydroperoxide decomposer, phosphorus hydroperoxide decomposer, benzotriazole UV absorber, salicylate UV absorber, benzophenone UV absorber, hindered amine light stabilizer, nickel light stabilizer, etc.), photocurable resin, Various additives such as waxes, flow improvers, lubricants, surfactants, foaming agents, flame retardants, and pigments can be appropriately blended.

As the melt-kneading apparatus, for example, a closed kneading apparatus such as a lab plast mill, a Brabender, a Banbury mixer, a kneader, a roll or the like, or a batch kneading apparatus, a single-screw extruder, a twin-screw extruder, or the like The melt kneading apparatus can be used.
The resin composition of the present invention thus obtained can be molded using a molding method and a molding apparatus generally employed for a thermoplastic resin composition. For example, extrusion molding, injection molding, press molding, blow molding It can be melt molded by molding or the like.

These resin compositions can facilitate the thermal welding with the synthetic resin constituting the film member 32, and can ensure a good airtight state by performing the thermal welding. Further, the resin composition is a flexible material, and as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, it can be flexibly bent into a U-shape on its flat surface, thereby providing resistance to reciprocation of the carriage. Can be greatly reduced.
Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a thin film 34 by an aluminum laminating process is applied in advance to each surface of each film member 32 constituting the ink supply tube 20, whereby the ink supply tube 20 is Gas barrier resistance and moisture permeation resistance can be effectively provided.

On the other hand, the connecting member 21 attached to each end of the ink supply tube 20 is formed in a prismatic shape at a position facing each connecting tube 22 formed in a columnar shape, as shown in FIGS. The formed connection pipe 23 is formed. An opening 25 is formed so as to penetrate one columnar connecting tube 22 and the other prismatic connecting tube 23. The prismatic connection pipe 23 described above is connected to each ink supply path 33 formed in the ink supply tube 20 at each end of the ink supply tube 20.
That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the prismatic connecting pipe 23 is thermally welded by the film member 32 on the upper and lower surfaces thereof, and is press-fitted into the elastic member 31 on the left and right. In addition, it is possible to maintain an airtight state with the elastic member 31 after press-fitting by applying an adhesive in advance to the left and right side walls press-fitted into the elastic member 31 in the prismatic connection pipe 23. It is desirable to make it. Alternatively, it is preferable to form the connecting member using a resin that is compatible with the resin composition that is an elastic member, and integrally form the elastic member and the connecting member by insert processing or the like.

  FIG. 7 shows a state in which the connecting member 21 is attached to the end portion of the ink supply tube 20 in a transparent state, and portions corresponding to the portions already described are denoted by the same reference numerals.

By the way, according to this type of off-carriage type recording apparatus, ink pressure fluctuations may be exerted on the recording head side due to the acceleration received by the ink in the ink supply tube as the carriage 1 reciprocates. Therefore, in this type of printing apparatus, a damper member is generally mounted on the carriage to absorb the ink pressure fluctuation described above.
However, according to the ink supply tube 20 described above, the ink supply path 33 surrounded by the elastic member 31 and the film member 32 can have a damper function due to the stretchability of the film member 32 in particular. Therefore, by using the ink supply tube 20 having the above-described configuration, it is possible to provide a recording apparatus that does not have a special damper member.

On the other hand, in the ink supply tube 20 having the above-described configuration, there may be a case where the damper function by the film member 32 cannot be sufficiently obtained. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, a configuration in which notched portions 36 are provided in opposing portions of adjacent elastic members 31, and an enlarged space portion 37 in which the interval between the opposing elastic members 31 is expanded is preferably used. can do. In FIG. 8, the upper film member 32 is removed.
According to this configuration, it is possible to secure a wide area portion by the film member 32 in a part of the ink supply tube 20 by the enlarged space portion 37, thereby effectively exhibiting a damper function. Note that the above-described enlarged space portion 37 is desirably arranged on the downstream side of the ink supply path 33 in the ink supply tube 20, that is, on the carriage 1 side.

Next, FIG. 9 shows another preferred example of the ink supply tube according to the present invention. Here, FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 9B in the arrow direction, and FIG. 9B shows the longitudinal direction of the ink supply tube. It is shown in a perspective view in a shortened state. In the ink supply tube 20 shown in FIG. 9, a pair of long elastic members 31 are arranged in parallel with each other, and the film member 32 is joined in an airtight state on one surface and the other surface of each elastic member 31. Has been. A space surrounded by each elastic member 31 and the film member 32 is an ink supply path 33.
Also in the ink supply tube 20 shown in FIG. 9, it is desirable to use an elastomer as the elastic member 31 and to join the upper and lower film members 32 in an airtight state by heat-welding the elastomer. Although not shown in FIG. 9, it is desirable that the outer portions of the upper and lower film members 32 be preliminarily provided with a thin film 34 by an aluminum laminating process as in the example shown in FIG. 6.
In addition, also in the ink supply tube 20 shown in FIG. 9, connecting members made of synthetic resin are attached to both ends thereof and connected between the first and second connected members 17 and 19 shown in FIG. Ink is supplied from the ink tank to the recording head side. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, since one ink supply path 33 is formed for one ink supply tube 20, the recording apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. The ink supply tube 20 is used independently.

  In the form of the ink supply tube 20 shown in FIG. 9 as well, by selecting a relatively flexible material as the elastomer that functions as the elastic member 31, the degree of resistance to reciprocation of the carriage can be greatly reduced. it can. Then, as described above, the surface of each film member 32 constituting the ink supply tube 20 is subjected to the thin film by the aluminum laminating process, so that the ink supply tube 20 is resistant to gas barrier and moisture resistance. It can have sex effectively.

Finally, FIG. 10 shows still another preferred example of the ink supply tube according to the present invention. Here, FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE in FIG. 10B in the arrow direction, and FIG. 10B shows the longitudinal direction of the ink supply tube. It is shown in a perspective view in a shortened state. In the ink supply tube 20 shown in FIG. 10, both end portions orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the film member 32 are joined to one surface and the other surface of the long elastic member 31 in an airtight state.
That is, the ink supply path 33 is formed by bonding the film member 32 in a bag shape on both surfaces of the elastic member 31. Thereby, the circumferential length by the elastic member 31 on the inner surface of the ink supply path 33, that is, the circumferential length by the film member 32 is formed longer than the thickness of the elastic member 31.

Also in the ink supply tube 20 shown in FIG. 10, an elastomer is used as the elastic member 31, and the film member 32 is thermally welded in a bag shape to the elastomer as the elastic member 31. Can be joined. Further, although not shown in FIG. 10, it is desirable to apply a thin film 34 by an aluminum laminating process in advance to the outer portion of the film member 32 to be joined in a bag shape, similarly to the example shown in FIG.
In the ink supply tube 20 shown in FIG. 10, connecting members made of synthetic resin are attached to both ends of the ink supply tube 20 and connected between the first and second connected members 17 and 19 shown in FIG. Ink is supplied from the ink tank to the recording head side. Also, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, since one ink supply path 33 is formed for one ink supply tube 20, the recording apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. The ink supply tube 20 is used.

In the form of the ink supply tube 20 shown in FIG. 10 as well, by selecting a relatively flexible material as the elastomer that similarly functions as the elastic member 31, the degree of resistance to the reciprocating movement of the carriage can be reduced. it can. The surface of the film member 32 constituting the ink supply tube 20 is provided with the thin film by the aluminum laminating process as described above, so that the gas supply tube 20 has an effect of gas barrier resistance and moisture permeation resistance. Can be given.
In each of the above embodiments, a recording apparatus (printing apparatus including a fax machine, a copier, etc.) that ejects ink has been described as the liquid ejecting apparatus. However, a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects another liquid may be used. For example, as a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquids such as electrode materials and color materials used in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays, EL displays, and surface-emitting displays, a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects bioorganic materials used in biochip manufacturing, and precision pipettes The sample injection device may be used.

  According to the liquid ejecting apparatus using the liquid supply tube according to the present invention, the liquid supply tube is bonded to the elastic member in an airtight state along the longitudinal direction of the elastic member and the elastic member. Since the space formed by the elastic member and the film member is used as a liquid supply path and a specific member is used as the elastic member, the bending rigidity can be reduced, and the carriage can be reciprocated. The degree of resistance to exercise can be greatly reduced. Further, by forming a thin film such as an aluminum laminate layer in advance on the film member constituting the liquid supply tube, it is possible to realize the moisture permeation resistance and gas barrier resistance of the liquid supply tube at a low cost.

1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a recording apparatus using an ink supply tube according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an external configuration of an ink supply tube used in the recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. It is the front view of the state which expanded and looked at the ink supply tube shown in FIG. 2 from the connection member side attached to the edge part. It is sectional drawing of the state seen in the arrow direction from the AA line in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the state seen in the arrow direction from the BB line in FIG. It is sectional drawing which expanded and showed the C section enclosed with the chain line in FIG. It is the perspective view which showed the edge part of the ink supply tube in the see-through | perspective state. It is the perspective view which showed the example which gives a damper function to a part of ink supply tube. It is sectional drawing and the perspective view which showed the other preferable example of the ink supply tube. It is sectional drawing and the perspective view which showed other preferable examples of the ink supply tube.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Carriage 5 Paper feeding member 7 as a target conveying means Recording paper 8 as a target Recording head 10 as an ejection head 10 Capping means 13 Wiping member 15 Tank holders 16B to 16Y Ink tanks 17 and 19 as liquid tanks Connected member 20 Liquid Ink supply tube 20a as supply tube Bent portion 21 Connecting member 22 Columnar connecting tube 23 Columnar connecting tube 25 Opening portion 31 Elastic member 32 Film member 33 Ink supply channel (space portion) as liquid supply channel
34 Thin film (aluminum laminate layer)
36 Notch 37 Expansion space

Claims (5)

A liquid supply tube that supplies a liquid from a liquid tank disposed on the liquid ejecting apparatus main body to an ejecting head mounted on a reciprocating carriage, and the liquid supply tube includes an elongated elastic member and A film member joined in an airtight manner to the elastic member along the longitudinal direction of the elastic member, and a space formed by the elastic member and the film member serves as a liquid supply path, and the elastic member A liquid supply tube whose member is made of a resin composition having the following characteristics.
(B)-(a)-(b) type isobutylene-based triblock copolymer having (A) (a) a polymer block mainly composed of isobutylene units and (b) a polymer block mainly composed of styrene units A polymer, (B) an ethylene polymer and / or a propylene polymer, and (C) liquid polybutene,
(1) The air permeability [JIS K7126; method A (differential pressure method), 40 ° C.] measured using a sheet sample having a thickness of 0.5 mm is 200 cm ³ / (m ² · 24 hr · atm) or less,
(2) The moisture permeability measured using a sheet sample having a thickness of 0.5 mm (JIS Z0208; 40 ° C., 90% RH) is 2.0 g / (m ² · 24 hr) or less,
(3) Hardness [JIS K6253 (after 15 seconds)] is 30-60 degrees in JIS-A hardness,
(4) Melt flow rate [MFR] (JIS K7210; 190 degreeC, 52.185N (5.325Kgf)) is 100 g / 10min or less. The liquid supply tube according to claim 1, wherein the resin composition further has the following characteristics.
(5) Tensile strength and elongation (JIS K6251; dumbbell shape No. 3, 23 ° C.) are 5 MPa or more and 400% or more, respectively. A liquid supply tube that supplies a liquid from a liquid tank disposed on the liquid ejecting apparatus main body to an ejecting head mounted on a reciprocating carriage, and the liquid supply tube includes an elongated elastic member and A film member joined in an airtight manner to the elastic member along the longitudinal direction of the elastic member, and a space formed by the elastic member and the film member serves as a liquid supply path, and the elastic member A liquid supply tube whose member is made of a resin composition having the following characteristics.
(D) (b)-(a) having a weight average molecular weight of 50,000 to 80,000 having a polymer block mainly composed of (a) isobutylene units and (b) a polymer block mainly composed of styrene units. )-(B) type isobutylene type triblock copolymer, (E) (c) a polymer block mainly composed of isobutylene units, and (d) a polymer block mainly composed of styrene units. 90,000-130,000 (d)-(c)-(d) type isobutylene-based triblock copolymer is blended at a mass ratio of 20: 80-60: 40,
(1) The air permeability [JIS K7126; method A (differential pressure method), 40 ° C.] measured using a sheet sample having a thickness of 0.5 mm is 200 cm ³ / (m ² · 24 hr · atm) or less,
(2) The moisture permeability measured using a sheet sample having a thickness of 0.5 mm (JIS Z0208; 40 ° C., 90% RH) is 2.0 g / (m ² · 24 hr) or less,
(3) Hardness [JIS K6253 (after 15 seconds)] is 30-60 degrees in JIS-A hardness,
(4) Melt flow rate [MFR] (JIS K7210; 270 ° C., 98.0665 N (10 Kgf)) is 5000 g / 10 min or less. The liquid supply tube according to claim 3, wherein the resin composition further has the following characteristics.
(5) Tensile strength and elongation (JIS K6251; dumbbell shape No. 3, 23 ° C.) are 5 MPa or more and 300% or more, respectively. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising the liquid supply tube according to claim 1.

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